Talk about timing being everything! When Redwood Curtain chose the show to close its 2012 season, little did they know just how politically timely and relevant this satirical comedy would be. The title is "Dusty and the Big, Bad World," and the subject matter is based on the true censorship issue of a cartoon character on PBS during the twilight of George W. Bush's final term in 2008.

Yes, they knew the play would open right before our 2012 presidential election, but what they couldn't have possibly anticipated is that the subject matter of the script would be thrust back into the spotlight during the first presidential debate.

Let's just say that a certain, beloved, big yellow bird would apparently be put in the cross-hairs for elimination (along with government funding of the entire PBS network), if one potential POTUS is elected and has his way.

Needless to say, this future situation is definitely not a popular national scenario for many people around the country -- just as it wasn't four years ago when another children's show character came under fire.

At that time, "Dusty's" playwright, Cusi Cram and her husband, were both writing for the PBS animated series, "Arthur." She was inspired to create the play after a national controversy erupted over a spin-off episode from the series called "Postcards From Buster."

The part-documentary, part-animation segment dealt with the experience of a young girl with two lesbian moms who lived in Vermont. Its airing morphed into a social and educational argument that involved both the head of PBS and the Secretary of the U.S. Department of Education. Ironically referred to as "Bustergate," this resulted in having funding pulled from the program.

So, Cram wrote her own take on that situation, creating a fictional character called "Dusty" (a magical, purple dustball) whose popular PBS show is also pulled off of the air after tackling a similar storyline when an 11-year-old girl with two gay daddies offends the "powers-that-be."

Cram's play good naturedly examines the way children could form their personal opinions on same-sex marriage by viewing children's TV shows and, in the process, she takes her audience to surprising political places. But, it's always meant to be hilariously thought-provoking and completely entertaining.

"We all just laughed and laughed during the script's first read-through," said Clint Rebik, Redwood Curtain's artistic director.

The comedy's director, Jyl Hewston, praised the show's humor.

"I'm having a great time," she said. "The humor is so smart and satirical and the characters are so rich."

Veteran actors Dianne Zuleger, Carrie Hudson, Nathan Emmons and Tisha Sloan fill the plum comedic roles and will be joined by the talented, young newcomer, Alissa Barthel.